Summary

Sriram becomes an official member of Gandhi’s group. He sees more of the reality of village life, which he once knew only from watching Tamil films. They go on a tour of villages with Gandhi, during which Gorpad criticizes the English for taking Indian resources for the war effort, thereby plunging Indians themselves into famine. Although the villages all look and seem the same to Sriram, Gandhi spends time in each one, talking to the villagers in their huts and fields and under the village banyan trees.

Then it is time for Gandhi to leave. The group proceeds to the station, where Gandhi gives flowers to the station master’s children. Gandhi leaves Bharati with Sriram. Over the twelve weeks after Gandhi’s departure, Bharati helps Sriram learn how to spin. Sriram produces enough yarn to exchange for cloth, and...